Translating Vietnamese to English in the tourism industry involves more than just literal translation — it requires cultural understanding, industry-specific terminology, and clarity for international travelers. Here’s how you can approach it effectively:
1. Understand the Context
Before translating, know the purpose:
- Brochures & flyers? → Promotional tone
- Tour itineraries? → Clear, chronological, and descriptive
- Museum or cultural signage? → Accurate with historical/cultural sensitivity
- Hotel or restaurant menus? → Clear and appetizing
2. Use Common English Tourism Terms
Here are some common Vietnamese–English equivalents used in tourism:
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Du lịch | Tourism / Travel |
| Hướng dẫn viên | Tour guide |
| Tham quan | Sightseeing / Visit |
| Khu du lịch | Tourist area / Resort |
| Di tích lịch sử | Historical site |
| Vé vào cửa | Admission ticket |
| Nhà nghỉ / khách sạn | Guesthouse / Hotel |
| Đặt phòng | Book a room / Reservation |
| Lễ hội | Festival |
| Bản đồ du lịch | Tourist map |
| Đặc sản | Local specialty / Signature dish |
| Bảo tàng | Museum |
| Điểm đến | Destination |
| Chuyến đi trong ngày | Day trip |
| Hành trình | Itinerary |
3. Translate with Natural English Flow
Avoid word-for-word translation. For example:
- Vietnamese: “Tham quan chùa Một Cột – một trong những biểu tượng nổi tiếng của Hà Nội.”
- Poor translation: “Visit One Pillar Pagoda – one of the famous symbol of Hanoi.”
- Better: “Visit the One Pillar Pagoda – one of Hanoi’s most iconic landmarks.”
4. Keep Promotional Language Engaging
Use descriptive and persuasive English:
- “Thưởng thức đặc sản địa phương” → “Savor the flavors of local specialties”
- “Cảnh đẹp như tranh vẽ” → “Breathtaking, postcard-perfect scenery”
5. Use Tools Wisely
- For quick translation: DeepL, Google Translate (then revise manually)
- For accuracy: Hire a bilingual translator with tourism experience
- For glossaries: Use tourism-specific dictionaries or translation memory tools (like SDL Trados or Memsource)
6. Adapt to Cultural Expectations
- Use polite, friendly, and respectful tone
- Use metric system for distance/temperature unless targeting U.S. travelers
- Clarify cultural concepts (e.g., lễ hội, nhà sàn) if not directly translatable
Example Translation
Vietnamese:
“Tour du lịch 3 ngày 2 đêm khám phá Vịnh Hạ Long, bao gồm vé tàu, ăn uống và hướng dẫn viên.”
English:
“3-day, 2-night tour exploring Ha Long Bay – includes boat tickets, meals, and an English-speaking guide.”
Would you like help translating a specific tourism text from Vietnamese to English? We can do that for you too.
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